X is for XYZ

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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X is for XYZ!!

Since I am going to be eXtremely busy the next 5 or 6 days I decided I needed to end it here. So...

X, Y, Z... Now I know my blog ABCs next time won't you sing with me!!

W is for Wedding Day

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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W is for Wedding Day

4 months from today I will be marrying the love of my life.... on what would have been my Granny and Popa's 57th wedding anniversary. So, if 4 months plus a few days look for my blog about my wedding. In the mean time, enjoy this picture of my Granny and Popa's wedding day.

 August 28, 1954

John and Thelma Sloan

V is for VERY tired

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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V  is for VERY Tired

I've been so tired lately since I've had to adjust my meds. Hopefully I will get on top of this soon.

U is for Utterly Crazy

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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U is for Utterly Crazy


Yesterday (Monday) was an aweful day... but aren't all Mondays? (Well not next Monday... that one is going to be AMAZING) Josh's work has been crazy which makes me crazy and in turn makes Nathaniel cranky which makes me MORE crazy. lol I had a pretty big break down and spent most of the afternoon crying and yelling at Nathaniel for no reason (I feel horrible about it by the way)

Anywho, my soon to be Mother-in-Law came and got Nathaniel for the night. I spent the night cleaning out the hutch in the dining room and looking through prictures. My head is clear and I feel WAY more calm.

T is for Twin Love

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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Sunday, June 3, 1984 my mom and dad got the biggest suprise of their lives. My mom went into labor with what my parents thought was going to be 1 big boy. At 6:27pm my mom gave birth to my twin sister Sarah. 3 minutes later I followed.

I haven't seen my sister since December 21, 2004. Next Sunday, May 1, I get the AWESOME pleasure of picking her and her husband up at the airport.

I love my sister. She is my best friend.

S is for Son

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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S is for Son
My son... Nathaniel.

Q is for Quotes From Movies, R is for Really Excited

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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Q is for Quotes From Movies

Husbands should be like Kleenex: soft, strong, and disposable.
- Clue (1985)

It looks like we're up chocolate creek without a Popsicle stick!
- Shrek 2 (2004)

This town needs an enema.
- Batman (1989)

What exactly is the function of a rubber duck?
- Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002)

Fred Wesley: how are you feeling gorge?
George Wesley: saint like.
Fred Wesley: come again.
George Wesley: I'm holey Fred, get it? I'm holey.

- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)

Bellatrix: YOU STUPID ELF, YOU COULD OF KILLED ME!
Dobby: Dobby never meant to kill anyone.. only maime or seriously injure.

- Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 (2010)

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R is for Really Excited

One week from tomorrow I will get to see my twin sister for the first time since December 21, 2004. AND I get to meet my favorite brother-in-law for the very first time!!!

P is for Popcorn

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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P is for Popcorn

As in the popcorn I am enjoying while watching Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1.

Have a nice night!

O is for Only Me

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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I have always been one of the more difficult one of my parents kids. Can't do much the easy way and if there is a TINY percentage of stuff that goes wrong it usually does to me.

For the last month or so I have had a BAD cold... I'd rate it right up there with when I had the flu back in January. Come to find out it was one of my medications. Want to know the percentage of people who get this side effect? 2-5% of people will get a cold from this medication. That means 2-5 out of 100 people will have it. I just had to fall into that percent.

A year ago I had to have a repeat root canal because I was in the 5-10% of people who will have a  root canal fail within a year.

A 7 or 8 years ago I was diagnosed with HPV. At the time 10% of people had this... I fell in that 10%.

See a pattern??? If you don't see it yet here is another one.

August 7th 2001 I had Harrington rods (two 18 inch titanium rods) placed in my spine to correct my Scoliosis and save my life. These days getting a staph infection during surgery is not a huge risk, but there is a risk. I got a staph infection after that surgery. Do you know what the chances are of getting a second staph infection from that same surgery are? Neither do I, but it happened to me. LOL!!!

I'm not negative or sad about any of this... what doesn't kill ya makes you stronger right?

N is for Nephews

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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N is for Nephews

I have 4 nephews. Michael, Taylor, Cole, and Noah.

Michael is my sister Debbie's son. He lives up north with his father. Michael will be 5 years old this October. He is a special boy... So bright and full of love. His most favorite people in the world are my dad and step mom.... his Ranny and Pop-pop. He hasn't seen them in months, but he misses them and its heart breaking what hes going through during my sisters divorce.

Taylor and Noah belong to my brother Buddy and sister-in-law Ashley. Taylor is about 4 months older then Nathaniel and is super bright and fun. He is probably Nathaniel's best friend... they really love each other. Noah is almost 4 months old and totally sweet. Hes an easy smiler and a great snuggler. I stole him from his parents tonight and he is currently sleeping in my bed.

And then there is Cole who belongs to my sister Tesla and her fiancee David. He was born on New Years Day last year and has the biggest brown eyes I've ever seen. He also has his parents red hair. He is also soon to be a big brother to a little girl.

I know there isn't much there about them, but I love them so much its hard to pick out just a few things to say.

M is for Moments with my Mom

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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M is for Moments with my Mom

I have been busy planning my wedding lately... some alone, some with Josh, but most with my mom. We went alone, just me and her, to look for my perfect dress which we found in under 45 minutes I might add. That day was so fun... something I've always dreamed of. She went with Kassie and I and Genny and I to get their dresses, helped me choose flowers and a DJ, and has given me wonderful advise.

Today we spent the day together, just my mom, Nathaniel and I. We drove to Olympia and had lunch with a cousin and then once we got back to Vancouver we went and did some wedding shopping.

I love these moments with my mom. She is one of my very best friends and I love her with all my heart.

I, J, K, L... I'm a little behind lol

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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So since I am so behind I decided to add a little twist so that I don't have to try and be creative for the time being. I am going to post some poems... some I've written and some of my favorites.

I is for I Love You
a poem by me

Friendship...best
Friend...sisiter...life-long soul mate...
You've loved me for 19 years.
You've never made me wait when I needed somebody to talk to.
You've always been there to catch my tears and to soothe my fears.
This is you...
My life, my love, my best friend.
I don't know what I would do with out you.
You know that something is wrong with me by the look on my face or by the way I'm talking.
You know what I'm going to say before I even say it.
You know how to make me smile when nobody else can.
You've always been there for me, even when there was nobody else.
For all this I love you!
We've been through so much together.
All the times we've cried together over guys,
all the times we've laughed together because we were just being stupid,
all the times we've ganged up on each other just to make one another mad,
and for all the times we've made each other sad.
Priceless memories never to be forgotten.
They can never be replaced or covered up.
They may not always be in sight, but they will always be in our hearts.
You will always be in my heart.
You and I may be the farthest away from each other as possible or we may just be sitting right next to each other, but no matter what the circumstances are, I will always love you and you will forever be my best friend.
Let your worries of our friendship drift away with the clouds,
you have nothing to worry about.
No one can bring me the joy that you've brought me just by being my friend.
No one cane make me open my eyes and see reality like you can.
You have helped me become the person I am today.
You've been my sister for 19 years.
You will always be my sister.
I love you Sarah... Never forget that!

I wrote this poem for my sister, Sarah, back in 2003 for our 19th birthday.

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J is for Joyce's Poem

Destiny

I want to be a candle
that casts eternal light;
I want to be a smile
That brings someone delight.

I want to be a thought that croses someones mind;
I want some one to think that I was fair and I was kind.

I want some one to reminise When I was just a child,
And when I sprouted out my wings,
Fun, yes, but not too wild.

I want to share my happiness with everyone I know;
I want to leave a bunch behind to spark an afterglow.

I want you to remember how much I love and care;
I want you to remember I'd hug you if I were there.

By Joyce Raphael
9/18/2002

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K is for Kassie

Kassie is my 3rd cousin... I think. LOL Her grandmother is my Aunt Karen. Aunt Karen is my dads half sister. Kassie and I first found eachother on Facebook almost a year ago. We were fast friends right away and Finally got to meet for the very first time back in December. She is so sweet. Kassie has 2 beautiful children and a pretty cool fiancee. I asked Kassie to be a bridesmaid in my wedding and we are both super stoked.

I find it amazing that we never met until this last year. But when you take a look at our family you might understand. Even though FaceBook has its MANY bad and scary points I am so blessed to have been able to make contact with so many of my family because of it.

I know this isn't the best post about some one I love so much, but since I've only known her less then a year its hard to really write about her. What I do know is that she is fun, smart, beautiful, and a wonderful person to have in my life.

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L is for Legend of The Dogwood Tree
by Gail Brown

When Christ was on earth, the dogwood grew
To a towering size with a lovely hue.
Its branches were strong and interwoven
And for Christ's cross its timbers were chosen

Being distressed,
At the use of this wood
Christ made a promise,
Which still holds good:
Not ever again shall the dogwood grow
To be large enough for a tree, and so
Slender and twisted it shall always be
With cross-shaped blossoms for all to see.
The petals shall have bloodstains,
Marked in brown
And in the blossom's center,
A thorny crown.
All who see it,
Will think of me,
Nailed to a cross,
From a dogwood tree.
Protected and cherished,
This tree shall be
A reflection to all,
Of my agony.

H is for Hot Pot Holders

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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Josh's God mom's mom say that 3 times fast lol gave me these awesome hot pot holders a few years ago that she crocheted her self. I love everything about them and I have been wanting to learn how to make them for a while. Last night I pulled out my cotton and one of those pot holders and managed to figure out the pattern just by looking at them. The are so fast and easy! I think I'm going to change my give away prize. Not every one wears scarves, but EVERYONE needs pot holders!! Pictures to come soon!

G is for Give Away

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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20 followers and I'll have my first give away. And the winner of the give away will get a scarf made by me.Picture to come soon!

F is for Followers

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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F is for Followers

I have been blogging for about 7 or 8 months and haven't really gotten many followers. For the last few days my sister Sarah has been adding me to her A to Z challenge to try and help me get more followers. So now that I've jumped from 5 to 7 (big whoop right?) I'm going to make a deal. As soon as I hit 20 followers I will have my first give away. I always have projects in the making and would love to give one to one of my followers.

SO!! Get the word out there and you could win!!

E is for Energy

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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E is for Energy

I have had this horrible cold for the last week and I just can't seem to kick it. Been to the doctor if you can even call those people at the free clinic who smell like garlic and barely take one look at you before tossing you out the door twice and hear the same thing, "SEVERE cold. Drink lots of fluids and get plenty of rest." Ok, fluids CHECK I've drank enough tea to kill an English woman and enough water to kill a fish. I have actually drank more tea in the last week then I have in the last 6 months. As for getting enough rest... well I have a 2 year old and a fiancee who works graveyard. There is no such thing as plenty of rest.... except for tonight. I am going to take NyQuil and SLEEP cause Josh has today, tomorrow and Thursday off!!

My kitchen looks like a food and dish bomb went off, laundry needs to be done, Nathaniel needs a bath I'm sure he smells BUT since I can't smell anything its ok to wait another day... right?, and I barely have the energy to haul my butt up off the couch and go get my self more tea.

Maybe tomorrow.

Energy... I miss you.

C is for Cousins; D is for Details

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1 so to speak.

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I was too busy to post yesterday so I'm going to do 2 today.

C is for Cousins

The last year or so I have been able to reconnect with cousins that I haven't seen in YEARS. But I also managed to meet my 2nd cousin (my cousins daughter) Kassie for the first time back in December... I've mentioned her a couple times in some past posts.

Anywho, over the last few months Kassie and I have gotten fairly close. So close that I've asked her to be a bridesmaid in my wedding. Yesterday I had to go pick up my wedding dress (which is amazing BTW) and she came along so we could find her dress. I think it was the 3rd one she tried on that we decided was the one. She looks so pretty in it and I can't wait to see the dress in the color it needs to be.

D is for Details

Wedding planning is hard work. Its not just about finding the perfect dress, venue, cake, ring... there are TONS of other little things that no one thinks about until its actually time for them to start planning their wedding. Things like bubbles or bird seed, guest book or signed picture frame, bow tie or tie tie, real or silk flowers... etc. IT NEVER ENDS!!! I now know why the people who can afford it hire wedding planners. lol

A to Z Challenge April 2011

My sister, Sarah, over at Crochet by Sarah talked me into doing this A to Z Blogging Challenge for the month of April. Unfortunately I was too late to sign up to do it with everyone over at Tossing It Out and I'm too late to do it the "proper way" so I'm just going to wing it. I will be posting 1 blog per day except Saturdays where there will be 2 posts in 1so to speak. So.... are we ready to get this thing started?!?!

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A is for Army Wives

Not many of you know that I love TV. I watch everything from Ghost Adventures to sappy Lifetime movies. Recently I've been seeing previews for Army Wives on Lifetime. I knew that they were on season 5 or so and didn't want to miss so much. And then I found all 4 of the first seasons on NetFlix and am able to stream it on my Wii. I have fallen in love with this show and have a new found respect for spouses of all military personelle. I've spent so much time watching this show that I've actually fallen behind on the others shows I watch. lol

B is for Books

I haven't spent a whole lot of time reading in the last 7 or 8 months. But I LOVE to read. I have so many different kinds of books that I like. A couple of my favorite authors are V.C. Andrews and Elizabeth Chandler. I'm the kind of person that will read a book over and over and over. I have one book by Elizabeth Chandler that I have to replace soon because the spine is so worn out.

Amazingly, my love for books has sunk into my son too. Nathaniel loves to read too. He even sleeps with his books. lol

Flashback Friday: Granny and Popa

 This last week or so has really had me thinking about my Granny and Popa. I lost my Popa in December 2004 and my Granny in July 2005.

They were two of my most favorite people in the world. Well... truthfully, I don't remember my Popa being one of my favorites, but my mom tells me that he was my favorite when I was little... I believe her. For as long as I can remember Popa was cranky and kind of scary. lol Granny was a sweet soft spoken woman, but if you had even seen these two together you would know that SHE was the one who was really in charge. We always knew that Granny was the one you went to if you wanted anything.

The death of my Popa hit me harder then I ever thought it would. I spent so much time with him in his last few days. I remember the week before he died him, my sister, and my step-grandpa were all in the same hospital at the same time on differen't floors. What a crazy time that was. I would leave my Granny and Popa's house in the middle of the night to go sit with Popa and just talk to him. Some times I would just sit there and hold his hand. It was during one of those nights that he told me he loved me for the last time and for the first time I could ever remember. That brought tears to my eyes and to this day I get a little emotional when I replay that memory.

My Granny's death was hard, but not as hard as Popa's. We were ready for her to go... she died of a broken heart. The death certificate says "Failure to thrive"... she started going down hill after Popa died. My mom and I took care of her for 2 months after he passed and then we decided to put her into assisted living. She was in there until about a week before she died. At that point we needed to move her to a place where she could get more personal care. The day before she died the adult foster home she was in called me and asked if I would come try to feed her because she wasn't eating. So, Josh and I drove out there and she got to meet him for the first and only time. It's because of her that I refuse to give up on him no matter what happens with us. When we got there she looked at me and then looked at Josh. Then she looked at me with that questioning look on her face so I told her "Granny, this is my boyfriend Josh.". She looked back at him and then back at me and SMILED. My Granny approved... she knew that Josh was the one. After all, she would know. She was married to my Popa for 50 years after only knowing him for 3 months. When you look up true love their picture SHOULD be next to it. lol The next day she returned to the loving arms of my Popa.

Josh and I are planning our wedding. We will be getting married on August 28, 2011... my Granny and Popa's 57th wedding anniversary. I get emotional just thinking about it. What a great day for us to claim as ours... A day for us to be happy and remember a love so deep that it inspired me to love so deeply with all my heart. A love so powerful you would think it only happens in fairy tails.

Granny and Popa's wedding picture.